This Ring Is Too Big, This Ring Is Too Small but This Ring Fits Just Right!

If the Shoe Fits


Whilst our dress size may yo-yo to put a bungee jumper to shame, our shoes stay the same; that extra chocolate biscuit doesn't go anywhere near altering our shoe size. And that's why we all love buying shoes because, unlike the rest of our bodies, our feet don't grow in size. Well, are you sure? Have you never requested your shoe size with more than a hint of pride in your dainty porkers only to find that when the shop assistant brings the shoe, your dainty feet will go nowhere near? Sounds familiar? Well, that's because although our feet haven't changed in size, the size of the shoe we need changes with the style. And it's the same when we buy rings. Actually, it's even worse with rings; eat too many of those chocolate biscuits and the weight will go to our fingers! But back to the style of rings.

Basically, a wider ring will grip the finger more and you may need a larger size. On the other hand, no pun intended, you may need a smaller size if the ring is a narrow band. A smaller ring size may be better if the ring has a large head (top) in order to stop the ring spinning round on your finger hiding the stone.

In the UK we use an alphabetical system but, like shoe sizes, the US and Europe have a numerical system - although not the same numbers, just like shoes again. The table below attempts to show the differences between the UK, US and European systems and gives approximate diameter and circumference measurements, but there is no substitute for having your finger measured at a jewellers - and to have some idea of the kind of ring you want.

UK............US............EUROPE............DIAM............CIRCUMF
................................................................(mm)...............(mm)

H½..............4..............6..........................14.8.................46.5

I½...............4½......... 8..........................15.2.................48

J½...............5..............9..........................15.6.................49

L..................5½.........10.........................16.....................50.5

M.................6.............12.........................16.4..................52

N................6½...........13.........................16.8..................53

O.................7..............14..........................17.3................ 54.5

P..................7½..........15.........................17.7..................55.5

Q.................8...............17.........................18.1..................57

Q½.............8½...........18........................18.5.................58

R½.............9...............19.........................18.9.................59.5

S½..............9½...........21........................19.3.................61

T½............10..............22........................19.7.................62

U½............10½..........23........................20.1................63.5

V½............11...............24........................20.6................64.5

W½...........11½...........26........................21....................66

Y.................12...............27........................21.4.................67.5

Z.................12½...........28........................21.8................68.5



Although we might be forgiven for thinking that ring sizing is difficult, it used to be much worse. In the past, each manufacturer just made rings in sizes he thought he might be able to sell. In Victorian times jewellers used a tapered pole with markings spaced along the length of the pole. However, the markings on the ring stick were quite arbitrary and it was not until 1939-1940 that a British Standard was proposed with the diameter of each finger size increasing by 0.0155 inches. The proposal was officially accepted in 1945 and this is the standard still in use in the UK today for measuring ring sizes.